Find out how popular the first name Eliyah has been for the last 33 years (from 1991 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Eliyah by gender

Based on the last 33 years of data, Eliyah is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 65% of people named Eliyah being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 67 female babies and 34 male babies born with the name Eliyah.

The history of the first name Eliyah

The name Eliyah is a Hebrew variant of the biblical name Elijah, which means "my God is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is God." This name has its roots in the ancient Hebrew language and can be traced back to the Old Testament, where it was borne by the famous prophet Elijah.

Elijah was a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible, renowned for his miracles and his unwavering devotion to God. The biblical account of Elijah's life is found in the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings, where he plays a pivotal role in confronting the pagan worship of Baal and calling the Israelites back to the worship of the one true God.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eliyah can be found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, a collection of ancient Jewish manuscripts dating back to the third century BCE. The name was also mentioned in the works of Jewish historian Josephus, who lived in the first century CE, indicating its widespread use among the Jewish community during that time.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Eliyah or its variations. One of the most famous was Elijah ben Solomon, also known as the Vilna Gaon (1720-1797), a revered Lithuanian rabbi and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Jewish law and Kabbalah.

Another notable figure was Elijah Muhammad (1897-1975), a prominent African-American religious leader and the founder of the Nation of Islam. He played a crucial role in the black nationalist movement and was a mentor to Malcolm X.

In the world of literature, Elijah was the name of the protagonist in the novel "Elijah Visible" by Jamaican author Erna Brodber (1940-2017). The novel explores themes of identity, spirituality, and the African diaspora experience.

Elijah Millsap (born 1987) is an American professional basketball player who has played in the NBA and various international leagues. Elijah Wood (born 1981) is an American actor best known for his role as Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

Elijah Anderson (born 1943) is an American sociologist and author, renowned for his work on urban ethnography and studies of race and ethnicity in modern American society.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Eliyah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Eliyah, please contact us.

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